CHAP. VII. 



Of Animated Nature. 



..Ti 



HE Ancients, says Mr. Ruffon ? understood 

 much better, and made a greater progress in the 

 natural history of animals and minerals, than we have 

 done. They abounded more in real observations r 

 and we ought to have made much befter advantage of 

 their illustrations and remarks. Yet he does not 

 often support his sentiment by their authority ; hence 1 

 one might be led to believe, that he did oot himself 

 perceive the analogy which every where reigns between 

 his system, and that of the ancients. Let the reader 

 himself determine of it, upon perusing what I have 

 to offer* Mean while it is but right to observe, ' that 

 it cannot be concluded from Mr. Button's not sup- 

 porting himself by the authority of the ancients, that 

 he was not acquainted with their sentiments, and still 

 much less, that having studied them, he did not 

 discern the conformity between theirs and his 

 own. And I make this observation with the Jess 

 repugnance, because 1 do not hereby detract from 

 the reputation of that able writer, who will always 

 possess the merit of having with the greatest saga- 

 city apprehended the principles of the Greek phi- 

 losophers, and revived their reasonings ; the greatest 

 part of which had been ravaged by the injuries of 

 time. 



2. I cannot but look upon the restorer of the 

 sys>t in of any great man, the frame of which only 

 shews itself in a few remaining iragrneuts, as upon 



